BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2399
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2399 (Allen)
As Amended August 21, 2012
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |74-0 |(May 17, 2012) |SENATE: |35-3 |(August 23, |
| | | | | |2012) |
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Original Committee Reference: HEALTH
SUMMARY : Requires each of the five state hospitals under the
jurisdiction of the Department of State Hospitals to update its
injury and illness prevention plan (IIPP) at least once a year,
establish an IIPP committee to provide recommendations for
updates to the plan, and develop an incident reporting procedure
for assaults on employees, as specified.
The Senate amendments narrow the requirement for each state
hospital to develop an incident reporting system to instead
require each hospital to develop an incident reporting procedure
for patient assaults on employees.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
to the version as approved by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, unknown, likely minor costs to update plans and
report data on incidents (General Fund).
COMMENTS : The author asserts that an increasing forensic
population, insufficient staff levels, and facilities that were
not originally designed or maintained for forensic patients are
the major causes of increases in violent incidents at state
hospitals. The author maintains that creating a safer
environment has a significant impact on the well-being of both
patients and staff and can reap significant financial benefits
associated with reductions in overtime, fewer missed work days,
and fewer workers' compensation claims from staff injuries
relating to patient aggression. The author states that this
bill seeks to improve worker safety by requiring state hospitals
to update their IIPPs annually, establish a formal process,
through an IIPP committee, to enable employees to work with
management to make improvements, and have incident reporting
AB 2399
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procedures in place to respond to employee assaults immediately
and effectively.
Analysis Prepared by : Cassie Royce / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097
FN:
0005376